Also known as the Chatham Line. In 1853 the East Kent Railway Company was inaugurated and authorised to build an extension from the North Kent Line at Strood to Canterbury, with an extension to Faversham Quay, and another branch to join the South Eastern at Chilham, (the latter was never made). The Chatham - Faversham section was opened in January 1858, and extended to Strood across the new Medway Bridge in March. The Faversham Goods Quay branch opened in 1860. The line was single and operated 6 small Hawthorn class locomotives. In 1855 the company won approval to extend to Dover via Shepherds Well, which was opened in 1861, and in 1858 won further approval to create a new line between Strood and London via St Mary's Cray. Thence, via the Mid Kent Line, and the West of London and Crystal Palace Line, it terminated at Victoria. (1) The line is visible on historic OS maps dating to the end of the 19th and early 20th centuries (2-5)

<1> H. P. White, 1964, A Regional History of the Railways of Southern Britian Vol. 2 (Monograph). SKE32114.

<2> Landmark, Ordnance Survey 1:2,500 map (OS 1st edition 1862-1875): Landmark Epoch 1 (Map). SKE30964.

<3> Landmark, Ordnance Survey 1:2,500 map (OS 2nd Edition, 1897-1900): Landmark Epoch 2 (Map). SKE30965.

<4> Landmark, 1907-1923, Ordnance Survey 1:2,500 map (OS 3rd Edition, 1907-1923): Landmark Epoch 3 (Map). SKE30966.

<5> Landmark, Ordnance Survey 1:2,500 map (OS 4th Edition, 1929-1952): Landmark Epoch 4 (Map). SKE30967.